We are not products of our situations; we are products of our decisions
When difficult situations come in our life, we often feel negative emotions such as anger, resentment or self-pity. Though such feelings may be natural, even [...]
Spirituality unleashes our purity and our potency
The Bhagavad-gita’s concluding verse (18.78) depicts an imagery that transcends its battlefield context and highlights the empowering nature of its message. The verse declares that [...]
Devotion increases our self-worth through purification and our social worth through contribution
Some people feel that devotion is too other-worldly, for it seeks only to attain liberation to another world. While spiritual liberation is the ultimate fruit [...]
Worrying is a part of life’s job description, but it is not the whole job
In life, we need to anticipate the things that may go wrong and prepare for them, either by advance planning or on-the-feet thinking. Thus, in [...]
See problems as opportunities to expand our conceptions of the scope of Krishna consciousness
We often think of God as an insurance against problems; if we worship him, he will protect us. However, sometimes amidst problems when such relief [...]
We don’t determine God’s job description – he determines ours
When we approach God, we often have certain expectations: for example, he should protect us and provide for us. If such expectations are not met, [...]
See God’s love not just in relief from problems, but also in relief amidst problems
When we face problems too big for us to manage on our own, we frequently seek divine help. However, the material world by its very [...]
Focus not on life’s specific problems – focus on life’s universal purpose
During life, we all face various specific problems – our health may go down, our relationships may run through rough patches, our workload may become [...]
Jollity that is a mile wide and a millimeter deep is not spirituality
When people hear that spirituality brings the supreme happiness, they may expect spiritual people to be constantly happy. And as their experience of happiness is [...]
Following scripture centers not on legalistic conformity, but on loving reciprocity
When driving through unfamiliar territory, a map guides us. Similarly, during our life-journey, scripture is meant to be our map. But life is much more [...]
Faith is not just certainty – it is also openness to possibility
We often equate faith with certainty, as in, “I am sure that God exists.” Such equalization is valid in terms of ontology – we need [...]
The mind may give us a flashback, but we don’t have to turn back
When we strive to lead a principle-centered life, we sometimes get sudden flashbacks. Some flashbacks are joyful, some painful. The unpleasant flashbacks are often of [...]
Union of wills requires not the breaking of will but the building of will
We may have a lose-win conception in our relationship with God: He is the Supreme, and we have no option but to obey him, else [...]
To avoid the inner bad feeling, don’t weaken conscience – strengthen willpower
Whenever we do something wrong, we feel bad, “I shouldn’t have done like that.” This bad feeling is the pinch of conscience. Conscience is like [...]
Let technological literacy not lead to intellectual illiteracy
Technological literacy is nowadays spreading rapidly. With machines being used widely at workplaces, knowing how they work is often essential. But interest in devices goes [...]
Worldly enjoyment is the bait to worldly entanglement
When a fish that is swimming freely in the ocean gets allured by a bait, it soon gets trapped. We all are like that fish, [...]
The Gita empowers Arjuna to win his inner war and enrich himself with wisdom
When warriors fight a formidable enemy, they often inspire themselves by dreaming of the wealth they will gain on winning. Similarly, when we fight the [...]
Work not to run away from yourself – work to realize yourself
Work can be a responsible-seeming way to stay irresponsible. When we succumb to workaholism, work becomes our rationale for neglecting life’s other important aspects, such [...]
When we realize our deepest identity, we fulfill our highest destiny
When we are born, we get a conception of identity based on our gender, complexion, dynasty, nationality. Associated with this identity comes a conception of [...]
Devotion is a dexterous dance between dependence and determination
Some people feel, “As devotion requires becoming dependent on God, it makes the devoted passive, abandoning their initiative and energy.” However, devotional dependence is empowering, [...]
Using our ears better helps us better use the thing between our ears
The thing between our ears is our brain, which idiomatically refers to our intelligence. Though we all have intelligence, we don’t always act intelligently; we [...]